Lightning strikes Goa’s Bom Jesu Basilica

Old Goa (Matters India): Lightning struck the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa during a storm and damaged a pillar and tiles on the roof.

However, no one was hurt in the incident on Thursday evening.

The basilica holds the relics of Saint Francis Xavier.

Heavy rains lashed the former capital of Portuguese enclave. The lightning struck a pillar, which broke and a shower of stones came down from the facade of the 17th century heritage monument, The Times of India reported.

“A few stones fell down, but nobody was hurt,” Fr Savio Barreto, rector of the Basilica said. After the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials were informed, they started carrying out an assessment of the damage.

The front door of the basilica was shut for tourists on Friday due to the precarious condition of the pillar above and entry was allowed from the northern side. “A few meters of the area below the damaged portion were also cordoned off,” a source said.

A small patch of tiles on the roof near the pinnacle was also damaged, but rain water did not leak into the church.

“Some tiles broke and a little plaster portion was damaged, but overall the damage is minor,” an ASI official said.

ASI will erect scaffolding from the facade to access the area near the pillar. “It will take a couple of days to erect the scaffolding and reset the dislocated stone above the pinnacle,” the ASI official said. The work has already started at the site.

The lightning conductor in the church was functioning, the ASI official said.

Lightning had also struck another heritage monument in the world heritage church complex, Se Cathedral on October 10, 2014, and damaged one of its gables and roof in some parts. The false ceiling of one of the halls near the priests’ residence had been partly damaged.

This website is a news forum for all Christian citizens or clergy, from around the world. This website also publishes varied personal views of Catholic Church Citizens and distinct reports concerning the Catholic Church or what seems to have relevance to it. Articles, reports and news published in this website carry the views and perceptions of the authors or sources concerned, who only are responsible for their content. Publishing of an article or comment here does not involve acceptance or agreement with the contents on the part of the above mentioned parties. No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to KCRM, its website almayasabdam.com or to its administrators for any or all of the articles or comments placed here.

More

Join Church Citizens’ Forum

Name

Email *

What Have You Done?

"I was hungry, and you formed a humanities club, and discussed my hunger.
I was imprisoned, and you crept of quietly to your chapel in the cellar and prayed for my release.
I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your good health.
I was homeless, and you preached to me the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God:
But I am still very hungry, and lonely and cold.
So where have your prayers gone? What have they done?
What does it profit a man to go through his book of prayers, when the rest of the world is crying for help.
-Bob Rawland

Comments are subject to moderation, but only once per commentator. The 1st comment box directly links the article to your account in the Social Media while LEAVE A REPLY comment box is intended for discussions/debates. Bring the cursor to the date on the calendar below and see the posts on that date in the pop-up window that appears there. Thank You.